Telegraphic transmitter.



N6. 676,669. PATBNTED JANQM, 19o-8. D.s.TRoTH. TBLEGRAPHIG TRANSMITTER.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 6.1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

fllfl a., wnslimcrun, n, c.

PATENTED JAN. 14, 1908.

D. s. TROTH. TELEGRAPHIG TRANSMITTER.

L1 0N ED 6, 1906. APP OATI HL APR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1HE mmm: Perses co, WASHINGTON, n. cA

DANA STTROTII, OF FRUITVALE, CALIFORNIA.

` TELE GRAPHIC TRANSMITTER.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1908.

Application le'tl April 6. 1906. Serial No. 310.376.

devices that are adapted to transmit telegraphic characters or signals mechanically as a substitute for the well-known manuallyl opei'ated key or transmitter, and it has for its object the production of an improved instrument oi' apparatus' for producing and transmitting on an electrical circuit the characters of the Morse alphabet or any other characters or signals through the operation of a key-board having a separate finger-key for each letter or character and b y means of which messages or signals may be transmitted by a person having no special trainiiig, with the facility and correctness of a skilled operator.

To such end and object the invention comprises certain novel construction, arrangement and combination of a rotatable shaft, means for rotating the same, a series of circuit-making-and breaking disks or wheels loose on the shaft, one for each letter or character' to be produced, a circuit-closing lever adapted by its vibrations asproduced by notches or projections on the disk with which it sets in contact to alternately make and break a circuit a predetermined number of times to produce corresponding dots and dashes, on the circuit, means operated from a key-board for selecting any disk or disks in desired order and locking the same to the shaft, and means operating to disengage the disk from the shaft at the end of a complete revolution.

The invention embraces also, certain novel combination and arrangement of mechanism producing an improved keyopei'ated transmitting' apparatus, all as hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

The following description explains at length the nature of my said invention, and the manner in which I proceed to construct, apply and carry out the same, the accompanying drawings that form part of this specification illustrating a transmitting appai'atus or instrument embodying my invention and adapted to transmit the Morse system of dots and dashes through the medium of a key-board.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents the .instrument in side-elevation. Fig. 2 is a top-view with the top of the case removed.

Fig. 3 is a side-view in detail and on an enlarged scale of one of the circuit making-and breaking disks, the circuit-closing lever associated with it, and the key operated means for throwing the disk into workingl engagement with the continuously rotating shaft, the parts being shown in their normal position of rest. Figi 4 is a similar-view showing the disk locked to the operatingshaft and acting on the circuit-inakiiig and breaking lever. Fig. 5 is a perspective-detail of the key-operated means. Fig. 6 is a similar detail of the stationary support for the circuit making and breaking disk. Fig. 7 is a view of the disk removed from its support. Fig. 8 is a detail of the switch'for throwing the apparatus into and out ofthe liiie-circuit. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of several of the rotary disks and their stationary supports, the section being taken in a plane coincident with the longitudinal axis of the rotating shaft. Fig. 10 is a detail in perspective of a portion of the circuit making and breaking mechanism including the rear end of one of the levers on which the rotary disk acts, and the yielding bar that is depressed by the lever to break the circuit.

In the stationary frame, indicated ,by the reference number 2, a shaft 3 mounted in bearings 4, is driven with a continuous rotary motion. A series of piiiions 9 iiXed on the shaft 3 at intervals apart and corresponding in number to the different letters or characters that the apparatus is designed to produce are rotated continuously as the shaft is driven. Power is applied to the shaft 3 by any convenient means such as a small electric motor W connected to one end of the shaft 3. In close relation to and at one side of each of the pinions 9 is a cam disk 8 loose on the shaft and provided. with a latch 12 so attached to the disk that one end of the latch will engage the teeth of the pinion and thus lock the disk to the shaft. The opposite end of the latch projecting above or beyond the periphery of the disk is adapted to set into a' slot 17 in a stationary ring-shaped bracket or annular guide 18 that is a part of the stationary frame, and situated on one side of the disk. The slot in this part 18 is so arranged that the end 16 of the latch will hold the disk at rest and prevent it from turning with the shaft 2 as long as that end remains in the slot while, on the other hand, the latch will be locked to the disk by the shaft and will rotate with it when the end 16 is set out of the recess. The ext-ent of movement required to move the end of the latch out of the slot is sufficient to throw its opposite end into the teeth of the pinion.

vThe latch being mounted on the disk, the

initial movement of that part when locked to the shaft has the effect to carry the end of the latch out of line with the slot 17, the instant that the end is depressed or forced out of the slot, with the effect to bring that end 16 below or within the inner face of the stationary ring guide 18 and as that end is held against the inner face of the ring by a spring 15 while the disk rotates with the shaft, the opposite end of the latch is held in the teeth of the pinion as longv as the latch travels against the solid portion of the ring. As the disk revolves with the latch in that position the end 16 is pressed into the slot 17 by the reactive force of the spring at the instant that the end of the latch comes in line with the slot. The disk is thus carried around with the shaft from the moment that the latch is disengaged from the slot 17 until it is set into the slot again, making one complete revolution, and at the end of such movement it is locked and held at rest until the latch is again released from the slot. A lever 2() working on a pivot 21 in the frame is provided with a tooth 22 on theunderside standing, over and in line with the slot 17 5 and a bridle-wire 23 attached to the outer end of the lever connects it with a short arm or crank 25 on a rock-shaft 26. A short axial movement of this rock-shaft acting on the lever 20 draws it down against the force of a coiled spring 27 attached to the outer end of the lever and to a fixed point on the frame, thus bringing the tooth 22 against the end 16 of the latch and pressing the latch out of the slot 17 as often as the rocksha-ft is turned. A key composed of an upright stem 3() connected to the rock-shaft by a short rocker-arm 31 and provided with a head or linger-piece 32 forms a simple means of operating the rock-shaft. single stroke of the operators finger acts upon the lever 20 to disengage the latch from the slot 17 and lock the disk on the shaft, and on the removal of the 'linger from the key the spring 27 brings the parts back to position while the disk is revolved by the shaft until the latch is caught by the slot 16 and releases the disk. The circuit closing lever 6 for each cam disk is held by a spring 7 normally away from the contact bar 10 on the rear of the frame, by contact with which bar the electrical sending circuit is closed. This contact bar is yieldingly supported as shown This part by a in Fig. 10 by the s rings 10 and. is connected by a wire or conc uctor 34 with or into one side of the circuit wires -cL-b Fig. 4 into the other side of which the lever 6 is connected. through the frame by a conductor 34 to a binding post on the frame Fig. 2. The projections 8EL Fig. 7 and depressions in proper order to produce the required number and sequence of dots and dashes for the letter or character to which the disk is appropriated are readily formed on the edge of the disk by cutting or stamping them directly out of the metal. These parts are inclosed for protection in a case C on 4the front of which is arranged the ke y-board D.

A switch G of well-known construction is situated in the circuit for cutting out the apparatus from or connecting it with the main-circuit at will, in the same manner as the ordinary transmitting apparatus of a telegraph station is thrown into or out of the main-line. rThis switch is operated from the key-board by means of two finger-keys 38--39 and a rock-shaft 40 having two sets of rocker-arms 11-42, i3-4 4, and connections for the stems45-46 and the lever 47 respectively as seen in Figs. 1 and 8.

By depressing one key the local circuit will be closed on the main-line at g1 g2, or by moving the other key the circuit will be broken and the main-line closed at g3 g4, thereby cutting out the station.

By this apparatus a message is sent by simply operating the proper keys on the key board D after the fashion of an ordinary type-writing machine. Each time a key 32 is depressed it actuates a corresponding lever 20 to disengage the latch 12 of that letter from the slotted annular guide 18 and to lock its cam disk 8 to the shaft. In the rotation of the cam disk, the cam projections 8a strike the sending lever or circuit closing lever 6 and close the sending circuit a predetermined number of times and for predetermined intervals correspondingly to the dots and dashes of the particular code letter.

It is to be observed that the action of the lever' 6 is analogous to the sending key of a regular Morsetransmitter; that is the lever is actually rocked or moved up and down by the cam disk to cause the necessary makes and breaks with the contact bar 10. The cam disks 8 are not in the circuit at all. By yieldingly mounting the bar 1() on suitable springs 10 as shown in Fig. 1 and using sending levers 6 and actuating cams 8 as contemplated by this invention, a sure and sharp contact can be made for each dot or dash as called for.

What 1 claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a telegraphic transmitter, the combination of a rotatable shaft, means for rotating the same, a series of `make-and-break disks loose on the shaft, a circuit-closing lever to each disk, an annular fixed guide inclosing the edge of each disk, said guide provided with an opening, key-operated means including a latch of the disk and a pinion on the shaft, said latch having a member to engage the pinion and thereby lock the disk to the shaft, and having a second member to enter the opening in the guide and thereby disconnect the disk from the shaft at the end of a complete revolution.

2. ln a telegrapliic transmitter, the combination of a rotatable shaft, means for imparting continuous rotary motion thei eto, a series of circuit-making-and-breaking disks loose on the shaft, a circuit-closing lever to each disk, an annular hxed guide inclosing the edge of each disk, key-operated means comprising a latch on each disk and a pinion on the shaft, said latch having a member to engage the pinion and thereby lock the disk to the shaft, and having a second member adapted to engage said guide to hold the disk against movementV and disconnect the disk from the shaft at the end of the complete revolution.

3. In a telegraphic transmitter, a plurality of circuit-making and breaking levers, a ro-l tatable cam-disk to each lever having alternating projections and depressions adapted to produce by a rotative movement of the disk a predetermined number of vibrations of the lever, a contact member independent of the disk, engageable by the lever to make and break a sending circuit, a continuously rotated shaft, means including a latch on the disk for operatively connecting any disk or number of disks in succession with the shaft, and means comprising a fixed guide for the disk having a catch into contact with which the latch is moved, to disconnect each diskl from the shaft at the end of each revolution.

4. In a telegraph transmitter, a plurality of circuit-making and breaking levers, a rotatable disk to each lever having projections arranged in predetermined order to produce a given number and character of vibrations in the lever, a contactv member independent of the disk engageable by the lever to make and break a sending circuit, a continuous rotating shaft from which said disks are normally disengaged, key-operated means including a latch pivotally secured to each disk for operatively connecting the disks'in selected order and succession with or into the shaft, and means for disconnecting each previously connected disk, said last named means compiising a fixed guide for the disk having an opening into which a part of the said latch is projected to thereby lock the disk against movement.

5. 'lhe combination of a stationary frame, a rotatable shaft, a motor therefor, a series of rotatable cam disks, key-operated means including a spring actuated paul on a disk engageable With a pinion on the shaft for connecting at Will any disk or a number of disks in predetermined order with the rotatable shaft, means operating by the rotation of each disk for opening and closing an electrical circuit in time ti ith tlieinovement of the disk, and means for disconnecting the disk from the shaft after each movement, said last named means comprising an annular 'Hxed guide in which the edge of the disk is mounty ed, said guide having an opening into engagement With Which the latch is projected to thereby lock the disk against movement.

6.v lhe combination of a continuously rotating shaft, a pinion fixed thereon7 a signaldisk loose on the shaft, a latch on the disk, a stationary bracket having a slot adapted to receive one end of the latch, the other end being arranged to engage the pinion on the shaft, a spring operating to normally hold the latch in engagement with the slot, keyoperated means for setting the latch out of the slot and into engagement with the pinion, a circuit-opening and closing device individual to each disk, and adapted by the revolution of thedisk to produce a succession of interruptions in an electrical circuit in accordance with the fixed arrangement of projections and spaces on the disk, and means for resetting the latch to release the disk at the end of each rotation.

7. The combination of a stationary frame, a shaft therein, means for rotating the shaft, circuit-making and breaking disks loose on the shaft, apinion to each disk fast on the shaft, a spring held latch on each disk normally engaging a fixed part of the frame and holding the disk at rest, means for throwing the latch out of engagement with the frame and into the pinion and for retaining it in that position during the complete revolution of the disk, and circuit opening and closing means in an electrical circuit individual to each disk and actuated by the revolution thereof to transmit a telegraphic letter or character according to the projections and separating spaces on the disk.

8. In a telegraphic transmitter the combination of a rotatable shaft, disks loose on the shaft, pinions fixed to the shaft, latches on the disks, means to actuate the latches to engage the pinions to lock the disks to the shaft, an annular fixed guide inclosing the edge of each disk, said guide having an opening to receive a part of the latch When the latter is disconnected from its pinion, a sending lever operable by each disk, and a contact member independent of the cam disks engageable intermittently by said levers to close and open a sending circuit.

9. 1n a telegraphic transmitter the combination of a rotatable shaft, disks loose on the shaft, pinions fixed to the shaft, latches on the disks, means to actuate the latches to engage the inions to lock the disks to the shaft, said ast-named means including an actuating key, and a lever operated by the keyand operative on the latch, and a Xed guide surrounding the edge of each disk said guide having an opening into which a portion of an adjacent latch is projected at the end of a complete revolution, whereby said disk is held against further movement.

10. In a telegraphic transmitter the combination of a rotatable shaft, disks loose on 4the shaft, pinions fixed to the shaft, latches on the disks, means to actuate the latches to engage the pinions to lock the disks to the shaft, said last-named means including an actuating key, a lever operated by the key and operative on the latch, and an annular slotted guide to control the movements of the latch after it is operated on by said lever.

l1. In a telegraphic transmitter7 the combination of a rotatable shaft, a disk loose on the shaft, a latch on the disk, a pinion fast on the shaft, an annular fixed slotted uide engageable by the latch and normally holding the pinion stationary, an actuating key, a

sending circuit, and means actuated by the key to release the latch to engage the pinio and lock the disk to the shaft. Y

12. In a telegraphic transmitter, the oombination of a rotatable shaft, a disk loose on the shaft, a latch on the disk, a pinion fast on the shaft, an annular fixed slotted guide engageable by the latch and normally holding the pinion stationary, an actuating key, a sending circuit, means actuated by the key to release the latch to engage the pinion and lock the disk to the shaft, said sending circuit including in it a lever operable by the disk, and a contact member independent of the disk engageable by the lever to make and break the circuit,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANA S. IROTII Witnesses:

EDWARD E. OsBoRN, HARRY J LAsK. 

